ARDETTA ELAVICOLLIS. 



Yellow-necked Bittern. 



Crown of the head, back of the neck, upper surface, and wings, deep brown ; spurious wing and primaries, dark grey ; sides of the neck, 

 buff ; under surface, buff mingled with grey ; throat, white. Down the front of the neck, from the bill to the middle of the breast, is a row 

 of dark blackish triangular patches, regularly disposed, and largest on the chest. Irides, straw yellow ; orbits, greenish yellow ; bill, olive 

 brown above, yellowish grey beneath ; tarsi and upper part of toes, olive brown; back of tarsi, fore part of tibia, and knees, citron yellow. 

 The female is not so bright in her markings. 



Length, 22^ inches ; wing, 8^ ; tail, 8i ; bill, 8i ; tarsus, 2|. 



This species is found in every portion of Australia, and is probably also an inhabitant of Java and India ; but the specimens 

 from the latter localities are smaller. It varies somewhat in color, some specimens being more brightly tinted than others. Its place of 

 resort is exclusively the belts of mangrove found on the banks of tidal rivers and swamps, from which situations, although by no means shy, 

 it is not easily driven, as it dexterously evades pursuit among the thick and entangled roots of the trees, running over the mud with con- 

 siderable speed. The nest is usually built on the horizontal branch of a mangrove tree, and is formed of small sticks. The eggs, two to four 

 in number, are of a greenish white color, and rounded in form : li by li inch. Season of incubation, ]N'o\'ember to January. 



